Naturally, the best-case scenario for Rafael Nadal would be to defeat every opponent and take home the trophy, just as he did a few years ago. However, considering how circumspect he was in his remarks, it’s possible that even he wasn’t expecting to win the ATP Masters 1000.
The 37-year-old relocated to the city of Italy after spending time in the Spanish capital. He will compete in his final ATP Masters 1000 match there before traveling to Paris for the French Open.
Nadal didn’t know who his first-round opponent would be until the Italian Open draw was announced. He knew that if he won, he would play against seventh-seeded Hubert Hurkacz.
It was meant to be one of the qualifiers, but the Spanish legend could have drawn anyone because there were so many talented players in the qualifying, and now he knows who he will face at Foro Italico in the first round.
Zizou Bergs, ranked 108th in the world, won both of his qualification matches against Patrick Kypson and Jerry Shang to secure a spot in the main draw in Rome. The draw was harsh on him, as it assigned him against the 10-time champion of the tournament.
Nadal convincingly defeated a considerably younger opponent in the first round a few weeks ago, and Bergs will have an as difficult task ahead of him. Should he fail in his quest and Nadal also triumphs in his second-round encounter, the 25th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry will most likely be his opponent in the third round.
